Jazz Topples Nuggets, 118-114
The Utah Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets, 118-114, at Vivint Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Nuggets (52-29) came into the afternoon with a plan to give their starters some fairly solid run as a tune-up for the postseason, but it was the Jazz (37-44) that came out of the gates firing on all cylinders while building a 32-19 first-quarter lead. That seemed to wake up Denver, which forged a 76-57 advantage during the middle periods to take a six-point lead into the final period. However, another suffocating defensive effort by Utah in the fourth quarter, where they once again held the visitors to 19 points, led to the narrow comeback win.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Nuggets with 21 points, adding three assists, two blocks and one steal. Jamal Murray furnished 20 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter contributed matching 15-point, four-rebound, two-assist efforts. Christian Braun delivered 14 points, six boards, one assist, three steals and one block.
Ochai Agbaji paced the Jazz with 28 points, complementing them with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Luka Samanic provided 23 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals. Kris Dunn generated a 19-point, 14-assist double-double that included eight rebounds, three steals and one block. Simone Fontecchio totaled 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal.
The Nuggets finish the regular season by hosting the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon, while the Jazz close out the campaign with a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon as well.
The Nuggets (52-29) came into the afternoon with a plan to give their starters some fairly solid run as a tune-up for the postseason, but it was the Jazz (37-44) that came out of the gates firing on all cylinders while building a 32-19 first-quarter lead. That seemed to wake up Denver, which forged a 76-57 advantage during the middle periods to take a six-point lead into the final period. However, another suffocating defensive effort by Utah in the fourth quarter, where they once again held the visitors to 19 points, led to the narrow comeback win.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Nuggets with 21 points, adding three assists, two blocks and one steal. Jamal Murray furnished 20 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter contributed matching 15-point, four-rebound, two-assist efforts. Christian Braun delivered 14 points, six boards, one assist, three steals and one block.
Ochai Agbaji paced the Jazz with 28 points, complementing them with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Luka Samanic provided 23 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals. Kris Dunn generated a 19-point, 14-assist double-double that included eight rebounds, three steals and one block. Simone Fontecchio totaled 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal.
The Nuggets finish the regular season by hosting the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon, while the Jazz close out the campaign with a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon as well.
Clippers Notch Second Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 136-125, at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday evening.
The Trail Blazers jumped out to a strong start with a, 33-26, lead after one quarter. Both sides kept up the pace in the second and cut it to six-point game heading into halftime. The Clippers turned it up a notch in the third and outscored the visitors, 45-26, in the third to claim a 25-point cushion heading into the final frame. The hosts stayed in control through the fourth to close out their second straight.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a block, in 28 minutes. Norman Powell followed up with 23 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Ivica Zubac tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and a block. The Clippers shot 52 percent from the field, including 12-of-35 from deep.
Meanwhile, Kevin Knox led the Trail Blazers with 30 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a block, in 36 minutes. Shaedon Sharpe followed up with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Trendon Watford added 24 points, two rebounds, three assists and a block. The Trail Bazers shot 52 percent from the field, including 14-of-32 from deep.
The Trail Blazers jumped out to a strong start with a, 33-26, lead after one quarter. Both sides kept up the pace in the second and cut it to six-point game heading into halftime. The Clippers turned it up a notch in the third and outscored the visitors, 45-26, in the third to claim a 25-point cushion heading into the final frame. The hosts stayed in control through the fourth to close out their second straight.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a block, in 28 minutes. Norman Powell followed up with 23 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Ivica Zubac tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and a block. The Clippers shot 52 percent from the field, including 12-of-35 from deep.
Meanwhile, Kevin Knox led the Trail Blazers with 30 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a block, in 36 minutes. Shaedon Sharpe followed up with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Trendon Watford added 24 points, two rebounds, three assists and a block. The Trail Bazers shot 52 percent from the field, including 14-of-32 from deep.
T'Wolves Defeat Spurs, 151-131
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the host San Antonio Spurs, 151-131, at Moody Center on Saturday.
While there were nine ties and 12 lead changes through the opening 15 minutes, Minnesota rode a 45-33 second quarter to their victory. They put the game to bed behind a 39-23 third quarter, getting their lead up to 33 points at times. They led by at least 20 points for the closing 20 minutes, The Timberwolves shot 55 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range (24-of-43) while holding the Spurs to 53 percent from the field and 45 percent from long range (13-of-29). Minnesota recorded 42 assists to seven turnovers, while San Antonio had 34 assists to 13 turnovers.
The Timberwolves (41-40) were led by Anthony Edwards, accruing 33 points, five rebinds, five assists and two steals. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Mike Conley compiled 20 points and five assists, while Jalen McDaniels had 16 points, four rebounds and two assists, Rudy Gobert generated 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
The Spurs (21-60) were led by Justin Champagnie, collecting 24 points and four rebounds. Keita Bates-Diop amassed 22 points, three rebounds and five assists, Tre Jones generated 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Malaki Branham totaled 17 points and four rebounds, while Blake Wesley led the bench with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
These teams will finish off their season on Sunday, with San Antonio traveling to face the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota returning home to face the New Orleans Pelicans.
While there were nine ties and 12 lead changes through the opening 15 minutes, Minnesota rode a 45-33 second quarter to their victory. They put the game to bed behind a 39-23 third quarter, getting their lead up to 33 points at times. They led by at least 20 points for the closing 20 minutes, The Timberwolves shot 55 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range (24-of-43) while holding the Spurs to 53 percent from the field and 45 percent from long range (13-of-29). Minnesota recorded 42 assists to seven turnovers, while San Antonio had 34 assists to 13 turnovers.
The Timberwolves (41-40) were led by Anthony Edwards, accruing 33 points, five rebinds, five assists and two steals. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Mike Conley compiled 20 points and five assists, while Jalen McDaniels had 16 points, four rebounds and two assists, Rudy Gobert generated 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
The Spurs (21-60) were led by Justin Champagnie, collecting 24 points and four rebounds. Keita Bates-Diop amassed 22 points, three rebounds and five assists, Tre Jones generated 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Malaki Branham totaled 17 points and four rebounds, while Blake Wesley led the bench with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
These teams will finish off their season on Sunday, with San Antonio traveling to face the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota returning home to face the New Orleans Pelicans.